Liquid filling apparatus



0a. 10, 1944. w. PECHY 2,359,785

LIQUID FILLING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY5 Oct. 10, 1944.

W. PECHY LIQUID FILLING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. hawk 0 l 98 BY t ATTORNEY5 Patented Oct. 10, 1944 LIQUID FILLING APPARATUS William Pechy, Manasquan, N. J., assignor to- American .Can Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New Jersey Application April 27, 1940, Serial No. 332,081

Claims. (01. 226-116) The present invention relates to a liquid filling apparatus and has particular reference to filling liquid into containers or cans against a pressure in the can to prevent contact of the liquid with the filling head and thereby eliminate drippa e when the can is removed after filling.

In the filling of liquids into cans by means of filling heads the liquid sometimes rises up in the can to such an extent that it contacts the under side of the filling head and thus when the can is removed particles of the liquid clinging to the head drip off onto the machine parts and also onto the incoming empty cans thereby resulting in an undesirable condition.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difficulty by bringing the air filled can to be filled into communication with a vacuumized chamber while filling the liquid into the can so that the incoming liquid flows against a slight air pressure and is prevented from rebounding into contact with the filling head.

An object therefor of the invention is the provision of an apparatus including a filling head for filling a liquid into a can against a pressure therein to prevent the incoming liquid from rebounding into contact with the filling. head thereby eliminating liquid drippage from the head when the filled can is removed from the head.

Another object is the provision of such an apparatus which provides for cleaning out parts of the apparatus of particles of the filling liquid which are carried over from the can being filled and such cleaning follows after each filled can is removed from the head.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a part of an apparatus embodying the present invention and showing a filling head, a valve unit and clamping devices for holding a can sealed against atmosphere;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan sectional views taken through the valve unit substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. l and illustrating difierent 56ttings of the valve;

Figs. 5 and 6 are schematic transverse vertical sectional views of the valve showing a part of the can in place, the views being taken substantially along the broken lines 5 -5 and 6-6 in the respective plan views of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a plan sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6;

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan sectional views similar to Figs. 3 and 4 and are taken substantially along the same line 3-3 in Fig. 1, the views showing different valve settings;

Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sectional views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 10 showing a part of a, filled can being discharged from the filling head, the views being taken substantially along the broken lines 10-10 and "-4! in the respective plan views of Figs. 8 and 9; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken substantially along the lines l2-l2, l3-l3 in the respective plan views of Figs. 8 and 9.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose an apparatus which requires merely the operation of a valve to sub- .ict a clamped, open mouth can successively to several operations wherein the interior of an air filled can to be filled with liquid is first brought into communication with a vacuumized chamber having a capacity substantially equal to the capacity of the can. While in such communication the filling liquid is admitted to the can.

The liquid admitted to the can interior fiows against the resistance or pressure of the air in the can and thus pushes the air out into the vacuumized chamber. This filling action prevents the rebound of the liquid into contact with the valve. The air building up a pressure in the once vacuumized compartment reaches a point where it exerts sufficient pressure against the surface of the liquid in the can to terminate the filling action.

Upon termination of filling, the valve operates to cut off communication with the filling liquid supply and atmospheric air is introduced into the can head space. The filled can is then unclamped and discharged. After discharge of the filled can re-vacuumization of the chamber begins and while this is being effected a small quantity of water is introduced into the chamber. This clears it of any of the filling liquid that may have been carried over into it during the can filling operation. Atmospheric air is also introduced to carry the water therethrough. After such a cleaning operation, the valve operates to again seal the chamber and its re-vacuumization is thereupon completed in readiness for the next incoming can to be filled.

It is the present purpose to illustrate only suiiicient of an apparatus to give a clear understanding of the features of the instant inventionand to this end the drawings disclose a. portion of a vacuum filling head which may be a part of a more elaborate machine.

Such a disclosure embodies a liquid supply tank 2| (Fig. 1) containing aliquid 22 which is to be filled into a can A by way of a filling head unit generally indicated by the numeral 23. Such a unit may be carried on the outside of the tank.

The filling head unit 23 includes a fiat horizontal body member 25 having an integral vertically disposed foot 25 by means of which it is adjustably secured to the outside wall of the tank 2|. The foot may be clamped to the tank side wall in any suitable manner.

The unit body 25 carries: a depending rubber ring 28 which is vulcanized or otherwise secured on the outside of a holding ring 29. The holding ring is formed with a top plate 3| which is secured by a screw 32 to the bottom of the body 25. The rubber ring may be formed with an riclned lower edge which is adapted to be engaged by the upper open end of the can A when the iatter is raised into position on a lifter plate 34 disposed below the filling head unit.

The resiliency of the rubber ring 28 cooperates with the support 34 to effect a tight seal between the head and the open end of the can which when clamped against the ring is in position for filling. The lifter plate 34 may be raised in any suitable manner to efiect the clamping function and for this purpose it is secured to the upper end of a vertical stem 35 which is carried in a bearing 33 formed on a bracket 31 fastened to the bottom of the tank 2 To control the various steps of filling the liquid into the clamped can and of clearing the head as hereinbefore mentioned there is provided a rotatable valve unit 4| which rests on top of the horizontal body member 25. The valve is formed with an upper hollow casing 42 which encloses a vacuum and air receiving chamber 43. The casing is carried on the lower end of a vertical tube 44 which communicates with chamber 43.

The valve tube 44 extends up through a sleeve 48 which is carried in a bearing 41 formed on a bracket 48 secured to the outside of the tank 2|. An adjusting bolt 49 in this bracket and having a square head engaged in a T-slot in the body unit foot 26 provides for fine adjustment between the body member 25 and the valve 4|.

The valve 4| and its casing 42 are adapted to be intermittently rotated through the rotation of the sleeve 46. For this purpose the lower end of the sleeve is formed with a key 55 which engages in a key slot 56 formed in the top 01' the valve casing 42.

On its upper end above the bearing 41 the sleeve carries a substantially square locking block 58 (see also Fig. 2) and above this a valve operating spider or starwheel 59. The locking block and the starwheel are keyed to the sleeve .and are held against a shoulder on the sleeve by a pair of locknuts 6| which are threaded on the upper end of the sleeve.

The starwheel 59 is periodically revolved through a partial rotation by engagement with an operating finger 63 secured to a ring cam 64. Relative movement between the ring cam and the liquid tank 2| by rotation of either of these parts brings the finger into engagement with the prong oi the starwheel which extends into the path or travel of the finger. This rotates the starwheel.

During this rotation of the starwheel the corner of the locking block 58 pivots in a notch 65 formed in the inner edge of the ring cam. Between rotation of the starwheel the side oi'the locking block engages against the inner edge of the ring cam and this holds the starwheel 53 and the valve 4| against rotation.

The central valve tube 44 extends above the operating starwheel 59 and carries on its upper end a housing 88 which encloses an auxiliary vacuum and air receiving chamber 59. A pin 7| secured in the starwheel and extending up into a recess 12 in thehousing insures rotation of the housing with the valve. The auxiliary chamber 89 is in constant communication with the valve chamber 43 and is so proportioned that its volumetric capacity, together with the capacity of the valve chamber 43 and the connecting tube 44, is substantially equal to the volumetric capacity of the can A to be filled. For practical purposes the main vacuum chamber 43 and the auxiliary chamber 69, togetherwith their connecting tube 44, may be considered as a single chamber or chamber means.

Prior to the bringing of a can A into clamped position against the filling head unit 23, the valve chamber -43, the interior of the tube 44, and the auxiliary chamber 69 are in vacuumized condition. 'Vacuumizing of these chambers and the tube is brought about by certain parts and passageways of the valve parts connecting with a suitable source of vacuum; as will now be explained.

The vacuumizing of the chambers is effected when the valve 4| is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5. In this first position a small port 8| in the valve is in register with a recess 82 in the top surface of the unit body 25. The body recess in turn is in register with a valve recess 83 which is in register with a vacuum channel 84 formed in the unit body. The channel 84 is at all times in communication with a vacuum passageway 85 (see Fig. 1) formed in the bottom of the tank 2| and this passageway leads to the source of vacuum (not shown).

Hence when the valve 4| is in this first position there is established a line of communication between the valve chamber 43 and the source of vacuum and hence any air which is in the valve chamber, in the tube 44 and in the auxiliary chamber 69 is exhausted.

The can A is raised into position against the filling head unit 23 while this line of communication is still open. To prevent compressing the air in the empty can when the can is clamped into position there is provided an outlet through the valve to the atmosphere. This outlet is formed by a port 86 (Figs. 3 and 5) in the ring plate 3| which is always in communication with a port 81 in the filling head unit body 25. Port 81 leads into an atmosphere channel 88 formed in the valve which opens to the outside atmosphere.

After the can is clamped in place against the filling head unit 23 the valve 4| is rotated by the starwheel 59 into its second position which is shown in Figs. 4 and 6. In this position the line of vacuum communication between the valve chamber 43 and the source of vacuum is cut 011. Communication between the can interior and the outside atmosphere is also cut oil. This is done by the moving oi the valve port 8| and channel 88 outof register with their communicating recess 82 and port 81, respectively.

In this same position the port 8| in the valve 4| and communicating with the valve chamber 43.

is in register with a port 82 in the unit body 25.

The port 82 leads into a vent tube 83 which is secured in the ring plate 3| and which depends .into the open end of the can A just below its upper edge as shown in Fig. 6. The vent tube is in communication with the interior of the can.

In this second position of the valve 4| a filling recess 85 formed in the bottom surface of the valve is in register with a liquid channel 88 which is formed in the unit body 25 and which is always in communication with a liquid passageway 81 (Fig. 1) formed in the tank 2|. This passageway leads into the interior of the tank and provides an outlet for the liquid 22 to be filled into the can. The valve recess 85 is also in register with a port 88 which is formed in the unit body and which leads to a filling nozzle 88 (see also Fig. '7) secured in the ring plate 3|. The nozzle depends into the open top of the can just below its upper edge and is formed with a plurality of small filling holes |8| through which the liquid 22 from the tank 2| fiows into the can A. The liquid introduced into the can interior from the filling nozzle 88 fiows relatively slowly, being resisted by the air pressure in the can and as the air is displaced such air is forced up through the vent tube 83 and registering ports 82, 8| (Fig. 6) into the valve chamber 43, tube 44, and auxiliary chamber 89. When the can is full of liquid its displaced air is contained in these chambers and tube and in the head space inside the holding ring 28 and since the capacity of these spaces is equal to the capacity of the can, and since the liquid in the supply tank is under atmospheric pressure, the displaced air has been compressed to atmospheric pressure again.

The liquid rises slightly in the vent tube (Fig. 6) and thus traps the air at atmospheric pressure in the chambers and since the top of the tank 2| is open to atmospheric pressure a balanced pressure condition exists and hence the fiow of liquid ceases. This stoppage of the liquid flow is arranged to take place at the proper liquid level in the can to provide sufilcient head space therein and before the liquid level rises to contact the head. It is this action that prevents drippage after the filled can is removed since no liquid has come in contact with the holding ring 28 or its associated parts.

After this filling operation the valve 4| is rotated into its third position as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. During this rotation the vent port 8| in the valve is moved out of register with the vent port 82 in the unit body and hence venting communication between the can and the valve chamber is cut ofi. The liquid recess 85 in the valve is also moved out of register with the liquid port 88 in the unit body and hence the source of filling liquid is cut off from the can.

However, the filling liquid in the vent tube 83 and also in the nozzle 98 remains in these parts. To prevent drippage therefrom when the can subsequently is removed, the interior of the filled can is opened to the outside atmosphere in this third valve position. This is brought about by an atmosphere port I85 in the valve which at such a valve position is in register with the port 81 formed in the unit body 25. Port 81 leads into the port 86 which is formed in the ring plate 3| and which opens into the can interior. With this atmospheric line of communication established, the filled can may be removed from the head without the parts 83, 88 dripping.

With the valve in this third position, the first step in the revacuuinization of the chambers 48,

'88 and tube 44 takes place and at the same time valve parts are washed out. Revacuumization of the chambers is brought about in this first step by the register of the port 8| with a vacuum recess 2 formed in the unit body 25. Such a recess H2 is similar to the recess 82 and connects with the valve recess 83, the body channel 84 and the tank passageway 85.

A small quantity of water drawn into the chamber 43 as the air is being taken out cleans out any of the filling liquid or other solid matter which may have been carried over into the valve chamber during the transfer of the air in the filling operation. Such an introduction of cleaning water in the valve chamber 43 is brought about by the register of a port I I5 (Figs. 8 and 12) formed in the valve, with a recess 8 and a connecting port H! which are in the unit body 25.

The lower end of port opens into a U- shaped channel I I8 which is formed in a bracket 8 secured in any suitable manner to the unit body 25. The channel H8 is in communication with a curved trough or reservoir |2| which is formed in the bracket and which may be filled with water. A suitable source of water supply is indicated by way of example as a continuously dripping supply pipe I22 (Fig. 1). It is a small quantity of this water which is forced up into the valve chamber 43 when the valve port H5 is in register with the body recess 8 and port in this third valve position.

Communication between the valve water port 5 and the body water recess 6 and port lll' is only of momentary' duration since the timing of the valve at its third position is very short. Only a small quantity of the water will be admitted into the valve chamber as a result of such timing. The valve is rotated at once into its fourth position as illustrated in Figs. 9, 11 and 13.

In this fourth position of the valve atmospheric air is drawn into the chamber while it is still being vacuumized and this carries the water and with it any solids and filling liquid out of the various connecting vacuum recesses, ports, and channels thus cleaning the same. Thus the water filled port ||5 being in register with an angular channel I26 (Fig. 13) in the unit body discharges from the outer end of the channel which opens to the outside atmosphere.

In this same position of the valve its vacuum recess 83 and its vacuum port 8| are in communication being joined by a recess |28 (Fig. 11) formed in the unit body 25. Such-a recess is similar to the recesses 82 and H2. It is this line of communication that draws the air into the chamber 43 and carries the .water therein through the vacuum port 8|, body recess I28, valve recess 83, body channel 84, and tank passageway 85 back to the source of vacuum.

After such a cleaning operation the valve is further rotated through another step and is then in its original position, as shown in Fig. 5. In this first position the valve vacuum port 8| is in register with the original body recess 82 and all other ports leading into the valve chamber 43 are cut off. Hence the cleaned chamber is revacuumized in readiness for the next can to be filled, as hereinbefore explained.

It is though that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description; and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in'the form, construction and arrangement 01' the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Iclaim:

1. A machine for filling cans with liquid contents, comprising in combination, a filling head adapted to receive a can to be filled, said filling head having a vacuum chamber connected to a source of vacuum by which said chamber may be vacuumized, means for sealing off the empty can in communication with said chamber, means for introducing the liquid contents into said can against the pressure of air in the can -and in said chamber so that the air will prevent rebound of the liquid onto said head and subsequent dripping therefrom, means for closing off said air filled chamber from the can so that the can may be removed from the head and so that the chamber may be revacuumized for a subsequent can, means for introducing a predetermined quantity of a cleaning fiuid into said chamber after a can filling operation, and means for subsequently introducing atmospheric air into said chamber while it is being vacuumized for carrying said cleaning fluid through the chamber for washing out any filling liquid carried up into the chamber during the filling operation,

2. A machine for filling cans with liquid contents, comprising in combination, a liquid supply tank, a filling head mounted adjacent said tank and adapted to hold a can to be filled, a water reservoir adjacent said filling head, and a combination valve having a Vacuum chamber associated with said head for establishihg communication between the interior of the held can and the interior of the vacuum chamber and between the can and the interior of the liquid supply tank, the liquid in said tank filling into the can while forcing the air in the can out into the vacuum chamber to prevent rebound of the liquid against the bottom of the filling head, said valve when in another position cutting 01f communication between the vacuum chamber and the can and between the supply tank and the can and at the same time establishing communication be-- tween the vacuum chamber and a source of vacuum for vacuumizing said chamber, said valve when in a further position establishing communication between said water reservoir and said chamber and between the outside atmosphere and the chamber while maintaining the vacuum connection to draw the water and the air into and through the chamber for cleaning out any filling liquid carried over into it during the filling operation.

3. A machine for filling cans with liquid contents, comprising a filling head adapted to receive a can to be filled, said filling head having vacuum chamber means connected to a source of vacuum, said chamber means having substantially the volumetric capacity of the can to be filled, a rotary valve carried by said filling head and interposed between said chamber means and the can to be filled, said valve having a vacuum port for vacuumizing said chamber means and a filling port for filling the can with liquid from a filling means, and means for intermittently rotating said valve, the port of said valve being so arranged that in one position of the valve said chamber means is connected with said source of 7 vacuum and cut off from communication with the can and filling means, and in another position of said valve, communication is established between the can and vacuumized chamber means and also between the can and filling means, whereby liquid filled into the can displaces air from the latter into the vacuumized chamber means to build up air pressure on the liquid passing into the can so as to fill the can to a predetermined level below the bottom of said filling head, thereby preventing rebound of the liquid against the head with consequent dripping when the can is removed.

4. A machine for filling cans with liquid contents, comprising a filling head adapted to receive and hold a can to be filled, said filling head having a main vacuum chamber and a communicating auxiliary vacuum chamber connected thereto, the combined chambers having substantially the volumetric capacity of the can to be filled, a rotary valve carried by said filling head and interposed between said chambers and the can to be filled, said valve having a vacuum port for vacuumizing said chambers and a filling port for filling the can with liquid, and means for intermittently rotating said valve first so that its vacuum port connects said chambers with a source of vacuum so that communication is cut oil between the can and said chambers and second to disposesaid liquid filling port to introduce liquid into said can and to bring the can during its filling into communication with said vacuum chambers to build up air pressure on the liquid passing into the can so as to fill the can to a pre determined level below the bottom of said filling head, thereby preventing rebound of the liquid against the head with consequent dripping when the can is removed.

5. A machine for filling cans with liquid contents, comprising a liquid tank open to the atmosphere, a filling head adjacent said tank and adapted to receive and hold a can to be filled, said filling head having vacuum chamber means connected to a source of vacuum, said chamber means having substantially the volumetric capacity of the can to be filled, a rotary valve carried by said filling head and interposed between said chamber means and the can to be filled, said valve having a vacuum port for vacuumizing said chamber means, a liquid filling port for filling the can with liquid from a filling means and a cleaning port for cleaning said head, and means for intermittently rotating said valve, the ports of said valve being so arranged that in one position of the valve said chamber means is connected with said source of vacuum and cut off from communication with the can and filling means, and in another position oi said valve, communication is established between the can andvacuumized chamber means and also between the can and filling means, whereby liquid filled into the can displaces air from the latter into the vacuumized chamber means to build up air pressure on the liquid passing into the can so as to fill the can to a predetermined level below the bottom of said filling head, and in still'another position of said valve to establish communication between the liquid filled can and the atmosphere to effect easy removal of the can without said head dripping, and also to connect said' cleaning port with a cleaning fiuid drawn through said vacuum chamber during vacuumization for washing out residual filling liquid carried into the filling head during the filling operation.

WILLIAM PECHY. 

